Books by Steve, info and excerpts from The Truth about Trucking

Publisher: wordwizard publishing
ISBN Complete: 978-0-9789069-0-0
Title: The Truth about Trucking
Publication Date: 12/1/2006
Language: English

Book Description (formally called "Annotation"):
The Truth about Trucking is an honest and revealing look at
what it means to be a trucker in today's world. "It's hard to kiss
your wife goodnight if you're 1,000 miles away. It's hard to be an
influence in your kid's life, if you're not in your kid's life. That's
not my opinion, that's the truth about trucking." Steven R. Zellers

"Straight forward, entertaining and often funny, Zellers new
book The Truth about Trucking provides an education and
inspiration for readers who want the real story about life on the
road.
" Ron Wynn Nashville City Paper

Subjects

1: Business & Economics : Industries - Transportation
2: Family & Relationships : General
3 Travel : Special Interest - Family

The Truth about Trucking

What is the truth about trucking?

The truth is there are as many truths as there are drivers. There are over three million
truck drivers in the United States and they all have a different version of the truth. This
book is about my truth. I have been a truck driver off an on for over 20 years and I’ve
seen a lot of miles. I’ve seen good times and bad times on the road. I’ve seen
happiness and sadness. I’ve seen joy and pain. I’ve seen love come and go in my life. I’
ve gone to places I didn’t want to go to and been forced to leave places when I wanted
to stay. I’ve seen beauty and tragedy. I’ve seen great courage and immense fear. I’ve
seen wide open spaces and crowded cities. I’ve seen this country from sea to shining
sea and everything in between. I am a truck driver and I wrote this book so I could tell
you the truth about the things I’ve seen.
On a sunny day in 1986 I was a rookie truck driver on my way from Kentucky to Utah. I
will never forget that trip. It was my first solo run in a tractor trailer. I drove with the
windows down so I could feel the wind in my face. The road ahead was wide open. I
was seeing the mountains for the first time. Their beauty and majesty literally took my
breath away. There was no one watching over my shoulder and I had no time card to
punch. All I had to do was drive my truck and I was getting paid for it. It was almost like
a dream. I was young and had my whole life ahead of me. I was a truck driver and I
was free.
Three months before, I sat quietly on the front porch of the hotel I was living in at the
time. I was 22 years old and I didn’t know if I would have enough rent money for the
next week. Most of the time I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from. I hated
my. I had a construction job that I didn’t like very much. I skipped work two days that
week just because I didn’t feel like going. It wasn’t because I was lazy. I’ve never been
lazy. I’ve always been an ambitious person. It was just time for a change. As a matter
of fact it was always time for a change. I moved around a lot in those days; Town to
town, job to job. My life had no direction. I think I was looking for something. But I didn’t
know what. I tried sales jobs. I sold everything from coupon books to vacuum cleaners
to cars. I tried construction. I delivered pizzas. I worked as a grill cook . I worked as a
sign painter and even washed cars. No matter what job I did, my heart just wasn’t in it.
I would get bored very quickly and quit or do something stupid and get fired. If I got
fired I didn’t care. Jobs were a dime a dozen back in those days.
I wanted adventure. I wanted something more than just a day to day or week to week
existence. I wanted to know what was over the next hill or around the next corner. I
knew without a doubt that there was something out there for me. But I didn’t know what
it was.
When you’re 22 years old and in that situation what do you do? Do you just keep
moving around? Do you keep trying new jobs till you find one that fits? I honestly didn’t
know what to do. Luckily I was between girl friends and didn’t owe anyone any money
at the time. Basically what I’m saying is I was unattached. I had no commitments and
nothing to keep me in one particular place.
I saw an advertisement on TV for truck driving school. “Why not?” I thought. I made a
few phone calls and off to school I went. It was that simple. There were no lightning
bolts from God or magic fireworks that said this is your destiny. It was just a simple
choice. Pick up the phone and make the call or don’t. I did and here I am. At the time I
had no idea what I was getting into. But everything I am told me that truck driving was
the right choice for me.
Ever since I made that first phone call to the truck driving school my life hasn’t been
the same. I was no longer just some guy without a future. I had a career. I had
direction. My life had purpose and meaning. I worked hard and turned the dream into a
reality.
Yes truck driving is just a job. It’s the simple act of moving something from point A to
point B and getting paid for it. But it’s much more that that. Driving a truck for me has
never been about the destination. It’s always been about the journey. I am a truck
driver and I say that with confidence and pride.
I sincerely hope you enjoy The Truth about Trucking. In this book I will share my
experiences, observations and opinions They are mine and mine alone. There are
many things in this book that all truck drivers will not agree with but I think that many
will. It honestly doesn’t matter to me either way. This book is my truth the way I see it,
and I am proud to share it with you.

If you are thinking about becoming a truck driver….
This is what you can expect;

If you are not a truck driver and are thinking about becoming an over the road driver,
my advice is be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. If you are absolutely
positive that you want to drive a truck for a living, then continue reading and I’ll try to
give you an idea of what to expect. If you are not 100% sure then I suggest you throw
this book in the trash right now and get your ass in college.
This section, or this whole book for that matter, is in no way meant to discourage
anyone from pursuing a career in trucking. That is not my intention at all. My motivation
for writing this book is simply to tell the truth about the trucking industry as I see it. The
truth is, I see a lot of things wrong with trucking. Conversely there are many good
things as well. Before I go further, let me say this; I love being a truck driver. I love the
freedom and adventure the industry has brought me. But let’s be honest here. It’s not
all milk and honey. Truck driving is not just a job. It’s a lifestyle.
This section is specifically for anyone who is considering over the road truck driving as
a career choice. If you make this choice you will be trading life as you know it for the
life of a trucker. Life as you know it will cease to exist. You can say goodbye to many
of the things you now take for granted. Things like your sleeping schedule or weekend
poker games. Many of your personal relationships and friendships will fade out of
existence. Anything you did on a regular basis will be interrupted and probably
abandoned altogether. Being a truck driver, or even becoming a truck driver is not a
part time thing. It takes hard work and commitment.
You’ve heard the saying; ‘If it was easy, everyone would doing it.’ The job that looks so
good from the outside becomes a ravenous time consuming beast. It will consume all
your time. If you are not prepared to feed the beast, you’re making a horrendous
mistake.
If you have a family, get ready to say goodbye. If you have kids living at home and you
are considering the life of a trucker, then I feel sorry for them. Think about it carefully
before you make the choice to become a trucker. Everything you do affects everyone
around you. It’s hard to be an influence in your family’s life if you’re not in your family’s
life.
It’s hard to kiss your wife goodnight if you’re a thousand miles away. Watching your
son’s little league game on video two days after it’s over doesn’t have the same thrill
as actually being there. Trying to help your daughter with her book report over the
phone isn’t really much help no matter how hard you try. Your relationships will suffer.
That’s not my opinion. That’s the truth about trucking.
I made the choice many years ago to drive a truck and because of it I paid the price. I
once came home early after being out for a few weeks and made the mistake of not
calling first. I walked through my front door happy to be home and got my heart broke.
Shattered. Crushed. Destroyed. Words can’t describe the pain I felt that day. It hurt like
Hell. At the time I was naïve enough to think everything at home was OK.
I was wrong. How could everything be OK? She’s a flesh and blood woman and I was
never there. I was such a dumbass! How could anyone have been so stupid? I did the
only thing I could do. I picked up the pieces and moved on with my life.
Actually it wasn’t quite that simple. Nothing ever is. When I say I picked up the pieces
and moved on, I mean that literally. I buried myself in my work. What driving takes
away it also gives. I drove for at least three months without saying a word to anyone. I
didn’t turn on the CB. I barely ate. I barely slept. I just did my job and drove my truck. I’
m not kidding; I was a real basket case. I think the job that destroyed my life also saved
it. Driving gave me something to focus on and slowly restored my sanity. I don’t think
anyone ever completely gets over something like that. I know I didn’t. But we do the
best we can and move on.
Apparently I’m not the only truck driver in the world this kind of thing happened to. I
hear the same exact story nearly everyday on the CB. Every time I do, I still feel a
twinge of pain from that day.
I’m going to try to keep my personal life out of this book but that’s going to be a difficult
thing to do. Being a truck driver is a very personal thing. I often say that a truck driver
is not who I am, it’s just what I do. That statement is not true. I am a truck driver.
If you’re still determined you want to be a trucker after reading this then here’s what
you have to do; Go to truck driving school and get your Commercial Drivers License.
Then get hired by a trucking company and complete the required training period.
Sound’s easy doesn’t it? Actually it is that easy. In many cases you can accomplish all
this with just one phone call.

Index

This is what it feels like to say goodbye…,,,,,,,…………………. 3
What is the truth about trucking?............................................... 4
If you’re thinking about becoming a truck driver…........………7
Truck driving schools…………………………………............…….11
Training………………………………………………....................…...15
Trainer vs. Student – the ultimate challenge………......…...….20
Life on the Road…………………………………………..............….28
Typical Day……………………………………………….................….32
Parking…………………………………………………….................…36
Hookers Hooters and seat covers……………….......…………..39
United we stand………………………………..............……………..42
Wildlife………………………………………….................……………53
Random Bitching……………………………...............……………...59
Nature of the beast………………………….............……………….63
Rest Area……………………………………................……………….69
Pets……………………………………………................……………...88
Trucking and relationships…………………...........………………93
Greatness………………………………………..............…………...102
Truckstopville………………………………….............…………....104
Truck stops………………………………………..............……….…105
Reflection………………………………………………..............…...107

yet. The morning sun is starting to break while I watch you sleep. I study every curve of your face and
feel your breath on my chest. It’s almost time to go and I curse each passing second, not wanting to let
go of this moment.

You stir and a feint smile forms on your lips as I pull you close. You are not awake but not asleep. You
whisper a soft moan that sends the message load and clear, you feel it too. Your skin is electric against
mine. I miss you already before I say the words I dread to speak." It’s time, I have to go."

Your eyes open and beg me to stay. It is all I want but we both know I will answer the call. I am a trucker
and the road is waiting. I kiss you tasting the warmth of your soul. I love you with all that I am but love is
not enough. Bills have to be paid and deadlines have to be met. Love will have to wait.

I rise from our bed and get myself ready while you watch without saying a word. Your silence shouts
your unspoken thought. "Don’t go." If only it was that easy.
It’s time. I love what I am but not at this moment. I don’t want to speak the words so they go unsaid.

One last kiss and I walk away without saying "good-bye." I am a trucker and the road is calling.

Steven R. Zellers